Gastech 2026 opened in Bangkok with Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, and Thailand’s Minister of Energy, H.E. Mr Akanat Promphan, highlighting energy security, affordability, rising demand, and investment as key priorities for the global energy sector.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Thailand’s Minister of Energy, H.E. Mr. Akanat Promphan, highlighted that energy security has become a shared priority for governments as the global energy industry undergoes significant change. In response, he called for “more secure, more resilient and accessible energy for everyone, while positioning Thailand as a regional partner for energy cooperation”.
Natural gas remains important to Thailand’s energy system, with global demand standing at around 4,000.8 billion cubic metres per year. Thailand currently has 9 million tonnes of LNG capacity and is expanding this to 27 million tonnes to support regional energy needs, said H.E. Mr Akanat Promphan. He noted Thailand’s approach to reducing emissions, arguing that reaching net zero will require a broad portfolio of technologies alongside renewable energy and electrification, highlighting hydrogen and ammonia, in an effort to help reduce carbon intensity while making use of existing infrastructure.
Thailand is also considering carbon capture and storage as part of its pathway to net zero by 2050. H.E. Mr Promphan said the country’s CCS pilot project has reached a final investment decision, describing it as a step towards developing shared CCS infrastructure in the eastern seaboard.
Prime Minister Charnvirakul said Thailand faces the same fundamental challenge as other governments: securing sufficient energy while keeping prices affordable and moving towards a cleaner energy system.
“Today, every government faces the same difficult question: How do we secure enough energy for our people and our industries while keeping prices affordable and moving towards a cleaner future?” he said.
Prime Minister Charnvirakul said energy prices affect household expenses, business costs, national competitiveness, and investment decisions for Thailand, while electricity demand is rising as a result of industrial growth, AI and data centres.
“We therefore need an energy transition that works in the real world. It is not a choice between energy security and sustainability. Our responsibility is to deliver both at a price that people and business can afford.”
Prime Minister Charnvirakul identified energy security and affordability as central priorities, saying natural gas will continue to provide reliability and flexibility as renewable energy expands. He also announced that from mid-October, the government will introduce a 50 billion baht programme to support households installing rooftop solar panels, alongside tax exemptions on imported solar equipment.
The Prime Minister also pointed to Thailand’s investment momentum. In the first half of the year, the Board of Investment received applications worth approximately 1.4 trillion baht ($43.6 billion), up 37% from the same period last year, with projects potentially creating more than 82,000 jobs.
He concluded by calling for practical cooperation through “investment, technology, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that deliver real results”, adding that Thailand “stands ready to be your trusted partner”.